Two-time major runner-up announces retirement aged 31

The prospects of a long career can make professional golf so appealing, but that doesn’t mean its for everyone.

Superstars like Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa can attest to that. The enigmatic Ryder Cup winner Victor Dubuisson also ended his playing days last year because “the solitude had become extremely heavy.”

It’s rare, however, that young established players walk away from the game completely in the space of a matter of days.

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Just last week, the two-time major champion So Yeon Ryu played in her final tournament at the age of 33.

“I was just so tired of traveling and then I feel so grounded at home,” Ryu explained as she bowed out at the Chevron Championship.

And now, the American Amy Olson has become the latest LPGA pro to surprisingly announce her retirement.

Olson, 31, has been on maternity leave after making her last appearance in the 2023 US Women’s Open whilst seven months pregnant.

Little did the rest of her colleagues know that the missed cut at Pebble Beach would be her last.

“What. A. Ride,” Olson wrote on Instagram, confirming her retirement. “My journey in professional golf is officially ending. Call it quitting, retirement, a VERY extended maternity leave… I am turning the page to the next chapter in my life.”

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“I couldn’t be more thankful for the places God took me through this game of golf. Most importantly I’m grateful for the people who helped me along this journey.”

Canadian star Brooke Henderson was among the well wishers, replying: “Congratulations Amy!! Enjoy your next chapter!!”

Olson spent a decade on the LPGA Tour but failed to claim a win. She had success in the majors, however, with runner-up finishes at the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2020 US Women’s Open.

Last September, she announced the birth of her baby daughter, Carly Gray Olson. “We are so blessed and grateful to God who gives good gifts!!” she wrote on Instagram. “So many prayers answered in this little bundle.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.